temporary
UK /ˈtɛmpəɹəɹi/ · US /ˈtɛmp(əˌɹ)ɛɹi/ adjective, noun
Forms temporaries tempory
- adjective Not permanent; existing only for a period or periods of time. “Sally was put in temporary charge of the department while they searched for a full-time replacement.”
- adjective Existing only for a short time or short times.
- noun One serving for a limited time; a short-term employee, especially in an office.
- noun (programming) A short-term variable used to store an intermediate result.
Synonyms
temporal impermanent transient ephemeral earthly brief deciduous evanescent fleeting flying fugacious fugitive instant momentary passing perishable quick seasonable short short-lived temp temporary worker irregular
Antonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin temporarius, from tempus (“time”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Lasting for a time only; existing or continuing for a limited time; not permanent; as, the patient has obtained temporary relief.
Etymology [L. temporarius, fr. tempus, temporis, time: cf. F. temporaire.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “temporary”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details